Ashley Young, 39, sent off after Everton veteran’s horror gaffe in nightmare season-opener vs Brighton

EVERTON’S Ashley Young was sent off in his side’s 3-0 defeat against Brighton in a horror start to the season.

The 39-year-old full-back, who recently signed a one-year contract extension with Sean Dyche’s side, had a nightmare performance.

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With Saturday’s clash marking Young as the Toffee’s oldest outfield player in history, the spotlight was on him for all the wrong reasons.

Everton were trailing 2-0 as Young committed a costly error that left his team down to 10 men.

His pulled back Kaoru Mitoma by the arm when the Japan star was through on goal.

Denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity, he received a straight red card from the referee Simon Hooper.

As Young trudged off the pitch Everton’s woes deepened.

Simon Adingra capitalised on the numerical advantage by scoring another goal for Brighton.

The Toffees’ defence continued to struggle to brush off the visitors.

And Yasin Ayari thought he had scored Brighton’s fourth goal only for VAR to intervene.

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The offside flag was raised and the goal was ruled out.

Speaking to the BBC after the game, Everton boss Sean Dyche said: “It was a horrible game as a manager.

“When you are doing everything you ask and then concede a pretty soft goal from our point of view – a soft pass, they counter and we are 1-0 down against the run of play.

“We then concede from a poor decision from a pass and then get someone sent off and the whole feeling changes.

“Unfortunately we had these moments early last season, head scratchers. The first half was a good performance. We got punished for mistakes.”

Saturday’s defeat marked the start of Young’s second season at Goodison Park after Everton signed the star as a free agent on a one-year contract.

And in May the former England star signed for another term at the club after making 34 appearances for Dyche’s side last season.